As the weather starts to get colder it’s all too easy to forget to take simple precautions to protect your home when the temperatures drop, especially if you leave your home unattended for any length of time...

But you don’t need to be caught out. Your Move estate agents have come up with a few tips to avoid any nasty surprises for those going away at Christmas.

David Newnes, Managing Director of Your Move, said: “During severely cold weather it’s possible for water pipes inside and outside your home to freeze, leading to a burst pipe and then flooding when the thaw sets in.  Not only can this be a huge inconvenience, it can also result in costly damage to your home and belongings.”

To avoid problems such as this, it’s helpful to follow a simple checklist:-

• If you are away from your home for any length of time, set the heating at a lower temperature rather than switching it off to prevent pipes freezing.
  
  
• If practical, switch off water pipes if you are leaving the house for a long period of time - know where the valve for turning the cold water system on and off is, the stopcock.  It’s often found below the kitchen sink unit or adjacent larder units or sometimes in the front or rear hall, if in any doubt contact a plumber.
  
  
• Try leaving the trap door to the roof space ajar to allow warm air to circulate and open the doors to the sink unit to allow warmer air to circulate around the pipes.
  
  
• If your house has any exposed pipes, lag them with thick material, old blankets etc.
  Keep important local emergency numbers handy - a 24-hour plumber and an emergency salvage and clean up company could prove invaluable.
  
  
• If you discover a frozen pipe it’s best to thaw it out slowly using hot water bottles over the frozen area or towels soaked in warm water. Don’t use direct heat.
  
  
• If you have a burst pipe, turn off the mains water supply immediately using the stopcock.
  
  
• Allow any solid fuel heating system to burn itself out and do not relight it until the burst has been repaired.

David Newnes said: “Estate agents have seen the enormous damage leaving a house unattended particularly over holiday periods can cause. It can be worse for those trying to sell a property - the possible delay in selling simply because precautions were not taken can be highly stressful.  At Your Move, we’d recommend that you consult your estate agent if you are thinking of spending the Christmas period away.  We can offer some helpful tips which could save your home from the damage caused by cold.”